3rd Sunday of Great Lent: The Adoration of the Holy Cross

Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ, What comes to your mind when you see a cross somewhere?  Perhaps you see one on the side of the road.  Maybe you see one on a bumper sticker.  Sometimes people being interviewed on television are wearing one. 

I don’t know about you, but a cross always brings a smile to my face.  Far from its original intent of being a sign of torture and humiliation, it’s a symbol of victory, hope, faith, and love.  Even in the graveyard or looking upon the rows of crosses in military cemeteries, the remembrance of Christ’s dominion over all always brings a smile of Jesus’ truth and righteousness to my face.

Here are three beautiful hymns we sing at the Great Vespers for the Feastday of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (September 14) that speak to the power of the Cross (translations from Fr. Seraphim Dedes):

“Rejoice, life bearing Cross of the Lord, of true religion the invincible monument, the door to the blessed Garden, support for those who believe, and the Church’s wall of defense all around.  Corruption has vanished and is abolished because of you.  Through you the power that was death’s has been swallowed up, and from the earth have we been exalted to the heavens’ heights; panoply unassailable, opponent of demons all, the Martyr’s glory that truly adorns devoutest ascetic saints; the port of salvation, O all-precious Cross, bestowing great mercy on the world.”

“Rejoice, O precious Cross of the Lord.  Through you mankind has been released from the primal curse; the sign indicating true joy, O wood respected by all, in your exaltation cursing enemies.  For us you are holp in need, and the strength of Emperors, might of the righteous, and the dignity of the priests, for when you are signed, you redeem us from miseries.  Rod of the power from above, by which we are shepherded; the shield of peace that the Angels in fear attend to respectfully; divine holy glory of the Master Christ who grants His great mercy to the world.”

“Rejoice, you are the guide for the blind, and the physician of the sick, O most precious Cross, and also the resurrection of all who died, lifting up all of us who had succumbed to corruption.  Corruption has been destroyed, and incorruptibility through you has blossomed, and we mortals were deified, and the Slanderer has been utterly stricken down.  Seeing you lifted up today in the hands of the Hierarchs, we in turn now exalt Him who was exalted by means of you, and bowing before you we adore you, and great mercy we draw abundantly.”

These hymns make perfectly clear what the cross means for the Orthodox Christian – and that meaning is steeped in victory, power, and holiness.

So why, on the third Sunday of Great Lent, do we remember the Holy Cross?

Because Great Lent is hard.  Trying to live in holiness is hard.  Being an Orthodox Christian is hard.  Following Christ is hard. 

Half-way through the rigors of Great Lent, we need something to lift our hearts, give us encouragement, and remind us of the victory that is sure to come.  That something is the Cross of Christ, which enables salvation for mankind.

My friends, as an army would plant a flag to signal victory on piece of land, may the one true victory, Christ over sin and death, be planted in our hearts by the sign of the precious Cross.

And may Great Lent continue to be spiritually fruitful for us all.
Amen.

God bless,
Fr. Nick